l’avventura chair

I was so taken with the 4 Richard Shapiro designed chairs in yesterday’s post, I just had to learn more! The L’Avventura Chair is 47″ square by 30″ high and is shown in white linen (above)…simple yet sophisticated, modern yet timeless, it could be paired with any style or decor…LOVE!

Please enjoy this look at some highlights from Richard Shapiro’s stunning Studiolo Collection! (how fabulous are the textiles in the last photo?!)

photos from Richard Shapiro Studiolo

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a masterpiece in malibu

It should come as no surprise to me that I would fall head over heels in love with Richard Shapiro’s Malibu retreat…I have adored his work for as long as I can remember so when this magical home appeared on the pages of Architectural Digest, it was just another wow moment for me to take in…Shapiro worked closely with architect Douglas Burdge to create a home that feels altogether ancient and modern at the same time…let’s take a closer look at the details

Living Room ~ pristine steel windows enhance the rough beauty of frescoed plaster walls…4 Shapiro designed chairs happily co-exist with a 17th century Italian gilt-wood mirror and antique Cypriot fireplace

Kitchen ~ Basalt (a volcanic stone) and black lacquer cabinets combine to create a dramatic statement in the kitchen…the linen covered sofa is custom fitted to the alcove…how romantic!

Quite possibly the most artful staircase I have ever seen! The steel balustrade winds up to the master bedroom and bath…what an effortless marriage of wood, stone and steel…truly a masterpiece!

A timber staircase was designed to resemble the weathered ramparts of a Moroccan fort…pure genius!

Library ~ A daybed covered in mismatched stripes creates a cozy nook for reading in the corner of the library…table is 15th century Italian…painting is by Shapiro

Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna for Architectural Digest

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well read ~ part two

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ~ Charles W. Eliot

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

Hallberg & Wisely

Haynes-Roberts

J. Randall Powers

Jacques Grange

James Huniford

John Minshaw

John Saladino

Juan Pablo Molyneux

Kara Mann

Karin Blake

Lars Bolander

Lauren Gold

Luis Bustamante

Magnus Lundgren

Mary McDonald

Meichi Peng

Michael Smith

Michele Bonan

Miles Redd

Nina Griscom

Richard Shapiro

Robert Couturier

Sheila Harley

Steven Volpe

Suzanne Rheinstein

Ted Tuttle

Thomas Jayne

Thomas O’Brien

Tricia Huntley

Vicente Wolf

William Frawley

Windsor Smith

Yves Saint Laurent

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living with statuary ~ part two

“In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.” ~ Michelangelo Buonarroti

Wishing you a joyous weekend!

John Saladino

Juan Pablo Molyneux

Lars Bolander

Luis Bustamante

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

Meichi Peng

Richard Shapiro

Robert Couturier

Studio Ko

Suzanne Rheinstein

William Frawley

William Sofield

Windsor Smith

Yves Saint Laurent

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the house of windsor

My October 2011 issue of Veranda arrived the other day and much to my delight, they featured their summer showhouse on the cover! I have been waiting patiently for more pictures of this masterful concept home and let me tell you, it was worth the wait! I would highly recommend picking up a copy as there is a wonderful article and some additional photos…for me, I still enjoy seeing the images on the pages of a magazine…somehow there is an intimacy to the printed page that I lose with the computer…my heart still beats a bit faster when I see a magazine arrive in the mail!

Aptly nicknamed The House of Windsor, it takes its name after Windsor Smith, lead designer for the 8,000 square foot project situated in Los Angeles’ Mandeville Canyon…joining her, an all star cast of fellow designers ~ Candace Barnes, Stephen Block (patios), Peter Dunham, Richard Hallberg, Kathryn Ireland, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Paul Robbins (landscape design), Richard Shapiro and Tara Shaw…what makes this project unique is Windsor Smith’s vision for the home…she wanted the architecture and interior design to reflect the needs and wants of today’s family…a return to tradition and intimacy…what a wonderful collaboration and stimulating challenge for this talented group of designers…I believe the images speak for themselves…enjoy!

below ~ entry hall designed by Windsor Smith

below ~ family room designed by Windsor Smith

below ~ great room designed by Richard Shapiro

below ~ dining room designed by Richard Hallberg

below ~ kitchen designed by Windsor Smith

below ~ study designed by Peter Dunham

below ~ media room designed by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

below ~ master bedroom, bath and dressing room designed by Candace Barnes

below ~ bedroom designed by Tara Shaw

below ~ guest suite designed by Peter Dunham

below ~ the stable designed by Kathryn M. Ireland

photos from Veranda, Los Angeles Times, Coco Cozy

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the architectural beauty of a tall sofa

the gorgeous pair of high back and high arm sofas from yesterday’s post inspired me to write a themed post today…I’m passionate for this cocoon like form…many of my favorite designers either create their own version or incorporate this sofa style in their interiors…I hope you enjoy this closer look at the architectural beauty of a tall sofa…makes me want to curl up in the corner with a great book!

above and below, Heiberg Cummings Design

below, Alex Papachristidis

below, Bobby McAlpine

below, Dransfield and Ross

below, Hallberg & Wisely

below, John Saladino

below, Richard Shaprio

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richard shapiro studiolo

Lately, every magazine I read has the new ad for Richard Shapiro Studiolo and I’m in love! The ad is not yet available on the website so I went ahead and scanned it for us to enjoy! (above) There are, however, a number of new images from Studiolo that I’ve included in today’s post…I made sure not to repeat any images from my former post about Richard Shapiro so hopefully there are some surprises for you to savor…I just have to point out the gorgeous antique Venetian gondola chairs pictured above…the stunning fabric works perfectly with the aged patina of the wood…so beautiful…

I have to applaud Richard Shapiro…for me, every composition is a work of art…a study in form, function, balance, proportion, color and texture…I find myself pouring over every detail and never tire of their beauty…enjoy!

stu-di-o-lo (stoo-dee-o-lo) n. a sequestered private study room where conceptual thought leads to a higher plane of creative and aesthetic schievement

photos from Richard Shapiro

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kara mann

Today’s post features an artful and edgy interior by Chicago based interior designer Kara Mann. The first time I heard about the incredibly chic and talented designer was in an article published by the 1st dibs online magazine “Introspective” as part of their “The Talent” series. She grew up in a home designed by her mother who had an incredible eye for all things beautiful, think Coco Chanel meets Julia Child! Kara’s childhood was filled with “beautiful meals, beautiful rooms, a beautiful life…but, she exclaims, we never knew where the sofa would be when we came home!” This early and consistent exposure to great design helped her evolve into the successful and passionate designer she is today. Her design firm, Kara Mann Design, opened in November of 2005 followed by her Chicago showroom, featuring lines that were not yet available in the mid-west. “I felt as though Chicago could not only embrace them but deserved the best, so we took on a loft-like space to properly represent them,” says Kara. Richard Shapiro, Ochre and Trace are just some of the extraordinary lines you will find at her unique showroom. (check out my archives for posts about Richard Shapiro and Ochre!) Recently named to “The Vogue 100,” she is a trendsetter and style maker for the 21st century. May you enjoy this innovative and provocative interior as much as I do…I absolutely love her use of large scale photography…my favorite, the trio of images in the dining room set against the strong dark wall…so powerful and confident…I love it!

above and below, Lake Shore Drive Penthouse ~ photos & resources from Kara Mann and 1st dibs

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one hundred posts!

above, Alex Papachristidis

I made it! Today is my 100th post! When I started “a thoughtful eye” back in September, one of my goals was to write one hundred posts before the end of the calendar year and happily I achieved that goal with a few days to spare! To celebrate, I’m sharing with you my top twenty favorite interiors! Each and every one of these images brings a smile to my face along with a vivid memory of the first time I experienced their beauty.

This is my special gift to you, my loyal readers…thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to join me on this personal journey…I can’t thank you enough…there is so much I have yet to discover and explore about our visual world…I hope you continue to join me, it wouldn’t be the same without you…

below, Antony Todd

below, Bobby McAlpine

below, Bunny Williams

below, Charles Spada

below, Darryl Carter

below, Jacques Grange

below, John Saladino

below, Kelly Wearstler

below, Miles Redd

below, Richard Shapiro

below, Robert Couturier

below, Stephen Sills

below, Studio Ko

below, Susan Ferrier

below, Thomas O’Brien

below, Veere Grenney

below, Vicente Wolf

below, Windsor Smith

below, Yves Saint Laurent

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framed groupings

above, my living room

A few years ago, my husband and I purchased a small sectional sofa for our living room. Positioned in the corner opposite our main entry, I knew we needed a strong statement on the walls. After many weeks of research I decided on a large grid of square frames. Mathematically, they echo the “L” shape of the sofa and draw the eye up, creating the illusion of increased ceiling height. Initially I had intended to frame some of my black and white photographs but I ended up falling in love with the brown MDF backing and white mat! The high contrast and exact repetition turned out to be the dramatic statement I was looking for!

I’m excited to share with you some of my favorite framed groupings. Whether the same size or different shapes and sizes, many or few, colorful or monochromatic, framed groupings have the power to transform a space!

below, Alex Papachristidis

below, Steven Gambrel

below, Charles Spada

below, Darryl Carter

below, Jacques Grange

below, James Huniford

below, Richard Shapiro

below, Susan Ferrier

below, Thomas O’Brien

below, Veere Grenney

below, Vicente Wolf

below, Yves Saint Laurent

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